Perhaps along the lines of an observation I saw once in a discussion of "Gamer-gate" scandal (handling on-line abuse of women players), to the effect that "moderating" (i.e. discussion groups) can be seen as a form of "trolling".

Thank you for correcting my reference to the circumstances surrounding Gamergate...which just happens to fit in with one your pet peeves...

And thank you for the vivid demonstration of the relationship between moderation and trolling

Are you making grudgeful and passive-aggressive aspersions here, or are you attempting to achieve something beneficial through this behaviour of yours?

(It's a sincere and honest question, and I'd appreciate a response in keeping with that.)

Gamergate occurred because third-wave feminists like Anita Sarkeesian were objecting to the representations of women in computer games... either in terms of under-representation, or in terms of their one-dimensionality. That concern was then met with a counter-concern about the humourless way in which political correctness and cultural policing was strangling computer gaming, and more broadly, art and literature in general.

In a lot of ways, this battle between cultural libertarianism and cultural authoritarianism was the precursor of what things to come...

Metta,
Paul.

Paul, you are absolutely correct. The gamer gate controversy truly ignited the online "wars" considering identity and gave rise to personalities such as Sargon of Akkad and Milo online. It was really the catalyst of the online rebellion against PC politics.

In reference to my feeling of reading the "theory" posted above on trolling, I see the same habit of castigation of a group that Leftists (aka cultural authoritarians) simply do not understand and thought would be a soft target to trample. They did not understand that these individuals truly speak the language of the internet far better than they and would rise to the challenge to defend their community.

The false notion that gamer-gate was about standing up to the abuse of women in gaming communities is peddled by the regressive left to stoke a fight in their favor. It's simply not true. Sarkeesian and the others are simply carpetbaggers looking for loot.

This power to counter an entire narrative with meme magic can be seen during the campaign last year. Hillary's entire point got shattered by a troll simply shouting Pepe in the midst of her speech. Not only did it highlight the pervasiveness of the meme, it shows the systems total incompetence to challenge or even understand this language. It was an IRL troll moment that launched the Alt Right into the mainstream and undermined Hillary's authority.

"Upon a heap of rubbish in the road-side ditch blooms a lotus, fragrant and pleasing.
Even so, on the rubbish heap of blinded mortals the disciple of the Supremely Enlightened One shines resplendent in wisdom." Dhammapada: Pupphavaggahttp://www.accesstoinsight.org/